Well-traveled pastor settles at Trinity

Published: February 6, 2001 12:00 AM

The Rev. Tracy Hughes, recently named as minister to families, youth and young adults at Trinity United Church of Christ, has really been around. Around the world, that is.

Although born in Connecticut, Hughes spent most of her formative years living in Tiffin. In 1989 she graduated from The Ohio State University, earning a bachelor's degree in education. The following year she earned a master's degree in education from West Virginia University.

Hughes then joined The Peace Corps as a volunteer, going to work in Belize, Central America, from 1991 to 1993 as a teacher trainer and youth development worker. Following that experience, Hughes returned to Tiffin, joining the staff of Trinity United Church of Christ where she ran a teen center.

After about two years she left the Tiffin church to attend Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Mo., and in 1996 became a mission intern, joining Common Global Ministries in East Jerusalem. During that time she worked as a teacher at Rawdat E-Zuhur, a Palestinian elementary school.

In 1997 Hughes returned to the United States and completed work on her master of divinity degree at Eden Theological Seminary.

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But the young minister was by no means through with traveling. In 1999 she became a missionary for Common Global Ministries of the United Church of Christ, this time going to Chiapas in southern Mexico where she became an ecumenical worker under the auspices of the Catholic Diocese of San Cristobal de las Casas which worked in partnership with the United Church of Christ.

While in Chiapas, Hughes found herself in the middle of what she describes as a "low-intensity war" with Mayan groups seeking representation for their culture in Mexico. During her stay the minister found herself spending time working in refugee camps.

At the end of 1999 Hughes returned to Ohio and served an intern ministry at a church in Bluffton before hearing about an opening at Trinity UCC in Wooster.

Hughes said she comes to the local church at a time when it is placing a new focus on youth and young adults. She said a youth ministries task force recently identified the need for a minister to families, youth and young adults. This, she said, grew out of a concern that "today's young people have so many priorities" that there is a tendency for them to drift away from the church when they go to college, and not to return to it until they are married and have families. "We wanted to see if there was a way to nurture them in their faith and help them grow in discipleship," said Hughes. "We wanted them to be steeped in the faith and traditions of the church, as well as to bring in more leadership."

The new Wooster resident said she detects "a lot of excitement and energy for this new ministry. The congregation here is ready to do something great. It's ready to explode. There's good energy here. People are ready to try something new."

For her first big project Hughes said she is planning "Youthfest," which she said is aimed at allowing youths to get a better understanding of God's calling in their lives. Open to high school-age youths across the UCC conference and sponsored by the Eli Lilly Foundation, it is expected to involve 170 young people who will attempt to understand "how God is calling me and how I can open my life to that purpose." The special retreat will be held March 30, 31 and April 1. Hughes said she anticipates it will be an "invigorating and exciting time" for the participants.

One of those hoping to participate is Wooster High School student Branon Whitmore, a member of the church's youth group. "Everybody so far has had really good things to say about her and a completely open mind," said Whitmore, adding the new youth minister has "a lot of intelligent ideas that will bring a lot to youths."

Another youth group member, Jessica Saner, said in the past there has been a lack of programming at the church for high school-age students, and particularly with respect to mission work. Saner predicted Hughes will "bring a fresh perspective to youth of the church."

In all, Hughes said, she hopes her time spent at the Wooster Trinity United Church of Christ "will be spent full of nurturing, growth and love."